What is a Sacrament?

Baptism

Baptism is the purifying and sanctifying sacrament of rebirth. When baptized, a person is born into the body of Christ – the church. This first sacrament forgives all sins and opens the way for a person to live and grow with God and the Church through other sacraments.

Parents must be registered with the parish three months prior to Baptism. Please call the parish office to register for a Baptism preparation session.

For more information about Baptism, please read the “Guidelines for Baptism in the Roman Catholic Church” or visit the Archdiocese of Milwaukee web site at: https://www.archmil.org/Our-Faith/sacraments/baptism.htm

Godparents

When choosing Godparents for your child, the Godparent must be a fully initiated Catholic having the sacraments of Baptism, first Eucharist, and Confirmation, and they should be at least 16 years of age. Godparents are to be practicing Catholics who lead a life in harmony with the faith and role to be undertaken, since they are to assist the parents with the teachings of the church. If the Godparent is married, they should have been married in a Catholic ritual. If you choose two Godparents, one must be male and the other female.

Someone who is not Catholic, but a member of a Christian church with a valid baptism can act as a Christian Witness for the child. In this case, the other sponsor needs to be another fully initiated Catholic

Godparents have a great responsibility. They make a promise to God, the parents, the child, and to the Church. You promise out loud to witness gospel attitudes and values in your life and in the relationships that will develop with this child. You promise that you will be a Christian community for the child being baptized. You promise to surround this child with care, concern, support, faith, trust, challenge, and compassion as they mature.

Reconciliation

The Catholic sacrament of reconciliation (also known as penance) has three elements: conversion, confession, and celebration.  In it, we find God’s unconditional forgiveness.  Typically, the sacrament of reconciliation is first celebrated in second grade prior to receiving the holy Eucharist.  First reconciliation is typically celebrated in December.

Please call the parish office for more information.

First Eucharist

To prepare for this sacrament, both parents and their child get a deeper understanding of Mass and what the rite means.  In working towards being fully initiated members of the Church, children will partake in a workshop, regular classes, and activities that will strengthen their understanding of the sacrament.  To receive this sacrament, the child must have gone through one year of religious education prior.  First Eucharist takes place in April and May in the weeks following Easter.

If you have any questions or would like to register your children for Religious Education, please see the Religious Ed. page.

Confirmation

“Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the ‘sacraments of Christian initiation,’ whose unity must be safeguarded.  It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace.  For ‘by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit.  Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.” – CCC 1285

In the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, confirmation is celebrated when a teenager is a junior in high school.  At least one year of prior Religious Education is required before the year of confirmation preparation begins.  If you have any questions or would like to register your teenager for Religious Education, please see the Religious Ed. page.

If you are a Catholic adult who has received the sacrament of Baptism but has not been confirmed Catholic and would like more information about how to receive the sacrament, please contact Mary Beth Clowney, Director of Religious Education, at dre@stlouisparishwi.com or 262-835-4533.

Anointing of the Sick

Anointing of the Sick, one of the Sacraments of Healing, allows those who are home bound due to illness to fully participate in the work and worship of the Body of Christ. Through this sacrament, the ill person is strengthened and provided peace and courage to endure the suffering; it unites the member to the passion of Christ, and forgives them of their sins if they were unable to receive it through reconciliation (Catechism 1532). The celebration of this sacrament is an opportunity for the deepening of the faith of the community who are able to witness the faith and devotion of those being anointed.

2nd Saturday of the month after our 5:30 pm Mass or by appointment.

Marriage

The Sacrament of marriage celebrates the human capacity for love and total dedication, and serves as a witness to Christ’s love for the Church. This is a symbol of God’s love for His creation. Marriage is a sacrament of the self-giving love that two people offer to each other. The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership for the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring (Catechism 1601).

A couple preparing for Christian marriage should contact the pastor at least six months before their desired wedding date. We welcome registered and practicing Catholic(s). Couples must attend preparation sessions sponsored by the Archdiocese and St. Louis Parish. This is in accord with the Common Policy for Marriage issued by the Catholic Bishops of the State of Wisconsin. For more information about Marriage, please visit the Archdiocese of Milwaukee web site at: https://www.archmil.org/Our-Faith/sacraments/Marriage.htm

RCIA-Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

The letters “RCIA” stand for the “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults”, the document flowing from Vatican II which guides the process by which adults are initiated into our Roman Catholic community.  The RCIA is a process in which men and women are guided and cared for as they awaken in faith and are gradually introduced to the Catholic way of life.

The RCIA process is a series of carefully planned stages, marked by liturgical rites in the presence of the whole community, in which new Catholics embark on and join us in a continuing and deepening conversion into faith and discipleship.  The RCIA takes the history and spiritual needs of each person into account, differentiating between the baptized and the unbaptized.

The RCIA draws its model from the “catechumenate” of the ancient Church.  Becoming Christian in the early days of the Church involved a sharp break with the surrounding culture.  New Christians entered into the joy of new life and a life-sharing community of faith, but also entered into a way of living, which demanded deep commitment and entailed great risks.  In the modern world, our faith also demands deep commitment — our beliefs and the beliefs of our society are often in tension.  The Church revived the catechumenate because new believers in the modern world need careful preparation and caring support as they enter into the mysteries of Christ and the commitment of Christian living.

Our RCIA proram provides formal instruction and informal discussions for adults who wish to learn more about the Catholic Church. It is primarily designed for those adults who wish to become Catholic, including, in some circumstances, children age 7 and over. This may be a person who has never been baptized or Christians of other denominations. Catholics who may not have received the Sacraments of Eucharist and/or Confirmation are also invited to complete their initiation. Please call the parish office to make an appointment or for more information.